Not only was the image on the Tilma a miracle, but miracles continued to escort the image’s passage through time. In 1785, nitric acid was inadvertently spilled on the Tilma. Regarding this incident, Dr. Orozco stated, “Besides any natural explanation, the acid has not destroyed the fabric of the cloth, indeed it has not even destroyed the colored parts of the image.”

The second miracle occurred in 1921, when a bomb exploded in close proximity to the Tilma. The force of the blast shattered the marble flooring, blew out windows 150 meters away, and warped a brass crucifix. The Tilma and the glass pane protecting it remained unscathed. Dr. Orozco said, “There are no explanations why the shockwave that broke windows 150 meters afar did not destroy the normal glass that protected the image. Some people said that the Son by means of the brass crucifix protected the image of His Mother. The real fact is that we don’t have a natural explanation for this event.”[1]

The eight gates of St. Vibiana’s Cathedral in Los Angeles are the portal to this miraculous manifestation of the power of Our Lady of Guadalupe.